Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-07-28
Wood County,.
It's Interests. Local and
General.

To all tie People Of Wood County,
Events transpiring in the recent
past have demonstrated that it is
the part of wisdom that the peo-
pie of this county shall come to a
more complete understanding OF
and with each other. Discussions
among the people with that end
in view, should be had at times
when no political campaign is
pending, or other exciting topics
are before them for action. The
present seems to be an appropri-
ate time.
1t can hardly be expected that
all men and localities will cease
absolutely to be selfish and ambi-
tious. Indeed, if restrained with
in reasonable and proper limits,
it is not desirable that selfish
interests and local ambitions shall
cease altogether because legiti-
mate rivalry is a wholesome
stimulus to worthy effort and
deserved success. This is as true
of localities, or communities, as
of individuals. When, however,
rivalry between local communities
is permitted to degenerate into a
warfare, waged for personal ag-
grandizement-a warfare that
would, if it could, destroy rival
without securing in return any
adequate benefit; when rivalry
becomes the handmade of malice
or the weapon of avarice, and
Scruples not at unfair means with
which to accomplish its end, it
ceases to be legitimate rivalry and
deserves to fail.
Promising with a statement Of
these simple and self-evident pro
positions, let one who has long
lived in Wood County, who hopes
for many years hereafter to reside
within it, and who, therefore, for
purely selfish reasons, if for no
other, desires its most speedy and
complete prosperity, discuss with
you in a spirit of reason and
soberness, practical questions that
are before us. for consideration,
and which closely concern the
substantial well-being of every
tax payer in the county
1t was attempted during the
recent session of the Legislature
by law to compel the cities OF
Centralia and Grand Rapids here
after to maintain at their expense,
the present County Bridge cross
ing the Wisconsin River between
those cities. Failing in this, il
was next attempted to authorize
the County Board of Supervisors
to make the bridge a toll bridge
This proposition also failed, but
if the propositions or either ot
them, were meritorious, it follows
that those whose interest demand
ed such legislation are still with
out the. relief to which they are
entitled.
Assemblyman Lathrop intro
duced the second of those bills in
the assembly, and secured its
passage through that body. His
efforts in behalf of each of those
bills were warmly and persistently
seconded by prominent citizens o.
Marshheld and of the town o.
Wood, and perhaps also of othel
towns somewhat remote from the
county seat. Both measures were
defeated in the senate, notWlth
standing their supporters made
their best efforts to secure theil
passage there.
Judging from the representa-
tions of the gentlemen referred to
there seems to be a general senti
ment among the people of the
localities already named inc1ud
ing the present city of Pittsville
and perhaps some other towns
that the county should, at al
events, be relieved from the ex
pense of supporting the bridge
referred to; that if Centralia ane
Grand Rapids cannot be com
PEELED to maintain it, then.
should be made toll bridge, ane
the expense of keeping it W
thereby be borne by those wh'
use it; or failing in that, tn,
county should abandon it; ane
allow it to go down. 1t is be
lieved that the first reliable init
nation the people of Centrali
and Grand Rapids have receive,
that any considerable feelin.
existed in any portion OF tn
eounty to the effect just stated